University of Cambridge pledges to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2048

The University of Cambridge has adopted science-based targets for carbon reduction and pledged to reduce emissions to zero by 2048.

It aspires to be 10 years ahead of its decarbonisation pathway at all times - meaning it could achieve zero carbon status by 2038.

Senate House, Cambridge (14476537)

Cambridge is the first university in the world to announce a ‘1.5 degrees’ target, based on goals set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit the rise in global temperatures.

The international agreement, a response to the threats posed by climate change, set out the need to keep the increase in global average temperatures this century to well below two degrees Celsius, and ideally to 1.5 degrees, compared to pre-industrial levels.

The university’s targets indicate how much and how quickly it needs to reduce emissions to ensure it is fulfilling its role in achieving this according to the latest climate science.

Professor Ian Leslie, senior adviser to the vice-chancellor with special responsibility for environmental sustainability, said: “Scientists have made it clear that we need to take urgent action to prevent potentially catastrophic climate change.

“As a world-leading university, we need to not only take responsibility for our own carbon emissions, but also to demonstrate to others what is achievable. By setting an ambitious target for carbon reduction and aiming to reach it a decade early, we hope to provide opportunities for others to learn from our approach, including where we are successful and areas that are found to be challenging.”

Science-based targets are based on independently developed models. Cambridge’s is focused on targets relating to scope one emissions - direct emissions from owned or controlled sources - and scope two emissions, which are indirect, from the generation of purchased energy.